Českosaské Švýcarsko is kind of funny geographical name of the area, meaning Czech/Bohemian (Česko) Saxon (Saské) Switzerland (Švýcarsko). Any idea where you can find it? Partially in the Czech Republic, partially in Germany (the Saxony part of the country, but check the wiki because “Saxony” can be pretty complicated even within Germany :-)).
You can visit both Switzerlands (Boheiman and Saxon) in my today’s Insta Friday post.

For today’s Insta Friday post I have a collection of beautiful St Vitus Cathedral in Prague. It is the most important church in our country, the seat of Archibishop, roman catholic church. It was built from 1344 (first half started) to 1929 (second half finished) with lot of work done in between.
My most favorite part of the cathedral are the stained glass windows at the new part of the Cathedral, works of Czech artists Alfons Mucha and Max Švabinský. And in the gallery you can see why I like it so much.

One of the most famous religious places in Prague, the Church Of Our Lady Victorious, but more known as the church with Baby Infant Jesus. I call it Baby Barbie Jesus, as nuns are changing the dresses of little Jesus all year round, for Christmas leaving him “naked”. I make a picture always when I visit the church and I am really surprised how many dresses I have already seen. You can find them in the gallery bellow in my Insta Friday post.

The life next to the river is just beautiful. Specially in Summer or Spring, but all the seasons are wonderful. The river that flows through Prague is Vltava (Moldau), and it is the longest river in the Czech Republic, and it flows only here, as it springs in the South in Šumava Mountains and it flows to Labe (Elbe)river about 20 km North from Prague. For this weeks Insta Friday I have a gallery of the life around Vltava in Prague. The most important inhabitants of it are swans :-).

As the season started my posts on blog will slow dow, as I would not be able to spend my time at the computer. But I will do my best to keep the blog alive during summer at least with Insta Friday posts :-).

Spring – in fact the last days it is more summer – is coming to Prague and for my Insta Friday post I have selected couple of Instagram sights for sore eyes from Prague. Some of them are yet from winter but the others are bringing bloom to our life.

Masarykovo nábřeží (Masaryk’s Waterfront) is a waterfront on the right bank of Vltava River in Prague. It is bordered by the Jirásek’s and Legion bridges. Opposite from the waterfront you can find Slavic Island, you can read about it and see some pictures in recommendations section here.
The waterfront was named after our first president Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk (pres. 1918-1938), but it happened as late as in 1990 year. Before it was named after our first communistic president Klement Gottwald (pres. 1948-1953). And during the WWII it was called Reinhard Heydrich Ufer, as the whole waterfront of Vltava River.

Waterfront from the island.

The place is quite crowded with tram and car traffic. Up to 19th century this place was just a beach next to the river with mills and workmen “jirchář”, who were processing the leather there.

Waterfront from the Legion Bridge.

Now you will find quite beautiful buildings there, National Theater – this one deserves separated post, Goethe Institute building with fantastic sculpture decoration on the roof, Hlahol building built for Hlahol singing choir and being home of our first republic and later (1918-1942) movie stars; and we cannot forget water tower Šítkovská věž and modern building of Mánes House of artist above the river (between the embankment and the island).

Slavic Island (left) and Water Tower and Mánes House of artists.

The architect of the waterfront concept was František Sander, and we can see the frescoes of the works done on the building number 30 (in the gallery picture: nabrezi (15), the one with the knight, bellow him).

Gallery of the details above your head:

The author of former bank house, now Goethe Institut, was director or the Art school Jiří Stibral and the statues were done by Ladislav Šaloun (he is on plan to have his own post).

Goethe Institute.

One of the most important art nouveau houses is the Hlahol house, done by architect Josef Fanta (Main Train Station in Prague) with mosaic (Karel Klusáček).

Hlahol.

And if you need to go the bathroom (Toalety in Czech) after looking so much up, there is a nice place down 🙂 under the National Theatre (do not promise they are working).

Toalety above the river.

One more nice building on the waterfront.

Red house.

For you who needs a coffee after this tour, visit one of the most famous ones: Slavia cafe (surprisingly I do not have a picture, as I always forgot to make one) or Savoy cafe on the other side of the river.